November 2016 - United Kingdom Special Weapons News

Royal Navy Using 'Out of Date Equipment' and Ships - Report Sputnik 30 Nov 2016 -- Britain's Royal Navy is having is fair share of problems over recent months, and now a new report has suggested that they are using naval ships "well beyond their sell-by date."
Parker Review: Blueprint for a strong naval shipbuilding sector UK MOD 29 Nov 2016-- Sir John Parker's Independent Report into naval shipbuilding sets out far-reaching recommendations to transform the UK shipbuilding industry
Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 28 Nov 2016 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh
UK unlikely to be able to stay in single market: Secret memo Press TV 28 Nov 2016 -- The United Kingdom is unlikely to be able to stay in the single market after it leaves the European Union, suggests a secret memo carried by a senior Conservative party aide.
Royal Navy Leads US Task Force 50 for First Time NNS 25 Nov 2016 -- Royal Navy Commodore Andrew Burns, commander of Amphibious Task Group embarked on the U.K.'s premier naval warship, HMS Ocean (L 12), took command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command's Task Force (CTF) 50 in the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 25.
UK Royal Navy Warship Towed Back to Port After Two Days at Sea Sputnik 25 Nov 2016 -- A UK Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer has been towed back into port just two days after it sailed, following a total propulsion failure while taking part in NATO exercises.
Despite Brexit, UK Aims to Remain 'Cornerstone' of NATO Sputnik 24 Nov 2016 -- The United Kingdom will continue to play a key role in NATO after leaving the European Union, UK Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
UK Confirms Future Deployment of 800 Troops to Estonia Sputnik 24 Nov 2016 -- The United Kingdom will send 800 soldiers to Estonia, as it promised at the NATO July summit, UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said Wednesday.
Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 21 Nov 2016 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh
UK-US Mine Countermeasures Exercise 17-1 Concludes in Arabian Gulf NNS 21 Nov 2016 -- U.K.-U.S. Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Exercise 17-1 concluded in the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 17.
"Woefully low" total of Navy escort vessels could shrink still further UK House of Commons 21 Nov 2016 -- The Defence Committee Report say that the Ministry of Defence has yet to explain how it will replace its 13 ageing frigates–due to leave service at the rate of one per year between 2023 and 2035–whilst maintaining even the "woefully low" number of operational vessels currently available and the skilled workforce to renew them.
UK Navy losing ability to deal with potential threats: MPs Press TV 21 Nov 2016 -- The Royal Navy has a "woefully low" number of warships, a group of British lawmakers say, warning that the force would soon lose its ability to deal with future threats.
War of Words Over 'Woefully Inadequate' UK Royal Navy, MPs With 'No Vision' Sputnik 21 Nov 2016 -- Politicians have clashed with defense experts over what has been described as the "woefully inadequate" state of Britain's Royal Navy, which critics say has been desecrated by politicians with "no idea" about strategy and "no vision for the future."
UK Parliament Urges Royal Navy to Present Plans on Replacing Aging Frigates Sputnik 21 Nov 2016 -- Members of the UK parliamentary Defense Committee called on the Royal Navy to provide details on how it would replace its aging frigates between 2023 and 2035, a report issued by the committee on Monday showed.
British parliament approves draconian surveillance measure Press TV 19 Nov 2016 -- The British parliament has approved a controversial bill which provides new bulk surveillance powers to police and intelligence services that critics have condemned as the most intrusive of any Western country.
Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 17 Nov 2016 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh
Defence Secretary announces UK-French missile cooperation UK MOD 17 Nov 2016-- Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has announced Franco-British Centres of Excellence for missile technology in Stevenage and Bolton.
United Kingdom – Certifiable Predator B Remotely Piloted Aircraft DSCA 16 Nov 2016 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Kingdom for Certifiable Predator B Remotely Piloted Aircraft, equipment, training, and support. The estimated cost is $1.0 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on November 16, 2016.
Britain Has No Overall Plan For Brexit, Leaked Memo Says RFE/RL 15 Nov 2016 -- Britain has no overall plan for Brexit and a negotiating strategy for leaving the European Union may not be agreed by the government for six months, a leaked memo suggests.
Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 14 Nov 2016 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh
UK, Norway Agree to Cooperate on Maritime Patrols, Winter Training Sputnik 10 Nov 2016 -- In particular, the defense ministries of the two countries agreed to cooperate on a maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to reduce costs and increase operational effectiveness.
UK and Norway agree new cooperation on Maritime Patrol Aircraft UK MOD 10 Nov 2016 -- The UK and Norway stepped up their defence relationship today, as Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon announced new cooperation on Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and exercises.
UK inaugurates massive military base in Bahrain Press TV 10 Nov 2016 -- The UK has officially opened a massive naval base in Bahrain, the first time in four decades that London is opening such a facility in the Persian Gulf region.
UK works with northern allies to tackle threats UK MOD 09 Nov 2016-- Britain remains committed to working with regional allies to confront global security threats, the Defence Secretary has said.
US, UK, South Korean air forces conduct strategic exercise AFNS 08 Nov 2016 -- The Royal Air Force operated its largest deployment of equipment and personnel to the Korean Peninsula since the 1950s during Invincible Shield, a combined interoperability exchange, which is taking place Nov. 1-10.
Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 07 Nov 2016 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh
UK to sell off military lands for housing purposes Press TV 08 Nov 2016 -- British Defense Minister Michael Fallon says that government is auctioning off 56 of its military sites to reduce running costs and release more land for housing purposes.
Britain Chosen to Service European F-35 Fighter Jets Sputnik 07 Nov 2016 -- The United Kingdom has been chosen by the US F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) to become the repair hub for European-based Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth multirole fighters, the UK Defense Ministry said Monday.
UK chosen as a global F-35 repair hub UK MOD 07 Nov 2016 -- The UK has been chosen by the F-35 Program Office to be a global repair hub providing maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade services for F-35 avionic and aircraft components. Over the lifetime of the programme, components for hundreds of European-based F-35 aircraft will be serviced and maintained in North Wales.
£4 Billion to support Britain's modern forces and their families UK MOD 07 Nov 2016 -- Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has today announced that over £4 billion will be invested to create a better defence estate for the UK's Armed Forces and their families.
Russia to Hold Observation Flight Over UK Sputnik 07 Nov 2016 -- Russian specialists would carry out an observance flight over the territories of the United Kingdom.
UK military shocked by Russia's Armata 'revolutionary' tank Press TV 07 Nov 2016 -- The British military intelligence has issued an internal warning about Russia's advanced new main battle tank (MBTs), criticizing London's inability to offer a competing solution, according to a new report.
UK Privacy Tribunal Taken to Court Over GCHQ Surveillance Claims Sputnik 07 Nov 2016 -- The UK's court relating to privacy and surveillance matters, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, is being taken to the European Court of Human Rights over its failure to disclose whether or not certain people were subjected to surveillance by UK's Communications agency, GCHQ.
UK government vows to challenge Article 50 court ruling Press TV 04 Nov 2016 -- The government of UK Prime Minister Theresa May says it will challenge a High Court ruling that has stipulated that the country cannot leave the European Union without the permission of the British Parliament.
UK Paying $125Mln to Bring New Air Defense Weapon to Navy in 2017 - Ministry Sputnik 04 Nov 2016 -- A $125-million contract to deliver a new air defense system that will protect the UK Navy's ships and submarines has been awarded to several local firms, the UK Defense Ministry said Friday.
Defence Secretary confirms summer start for Type 26 frigates UK MOD 04 Nov 2016-- The Defence Secretary has announced the steel cut for new Type 26 frigates will be in summer 2017, subject to final contract negotiations.
Britain Invests Billions in Cybersecurity in Face of Russian Threat VOA 04 Nov 2016 -- Britain says it will spend more than $2 billion on cybersecurity and recruit 1,000 more intelligence officers as the country's intelligence services warn of increasingly aggressive espionage tactics by Moscow, a charge the Kremlin denies.
NATO-Russia war not likely in 2017, Fallon says, downplaying MI5 chief's warning Press TV 03 Nov 2016 -- A war between Russia and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is "not likely" in 2017, says the UK defense chief, playing down an earlier warning by MI5 chief Andrew Parker.
Parliamentary approval necessary for Brexit: UK High Court Press TV 03 Nov 2016 -- The UK High Court has banned the government from setting the Brexit process in motion before getting the Parliament's approval, a decision that is likely to further prolong the UK's withdrawal from the European Union (EU).
UK Government Cannot Trigger EU Exit Without Parliament Approval Sputnik 03 Nov 2016 -- UK parliament should aprove the formal process of leaving the European Union by triggering Article 50 of EU's Lisbon Treaty, according to the decision of the High Court.
Britain's High Court Deals Blow to Brexit VOA 03 Nov 2016 -- Britain's high court dealt a blow to backers of Britain's exit from the European Union, or Brexit, by ruling Thursday the government must consult Parliament before starting the disengagement.
Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 02 Nov 2016 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh
UK troops to provide further support to Colombia UK MOD 02 Nov 2016 -- The Defence Secretary has praised the UK's relationship with Colombia as further UK personnel prepare to visit the Latin American country.
UK Snoopers' Charter Dubbed 'Hackers' Honeypot' Passes Last Hurdle Sputnik 02 Nov 2016 -- The UK Investigatory Powers bill - aka the Snoopers' Charter - passed its last stage through the House of Lords Tuesday (November 1) on its way to becoming law, despite critics saying that it still allows for virtually uninhibited mass surveillance by intelligence agencies.
Defence Secretary announces £1.1 billion investment in Army facilities UK MOD 01 Nov 2016-- The Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has today announced that over £1.1 billion will be invested in creating new accommodation and facilities to meet the needs of the modern Armed Forces.
Britain cyber security budget doubled, reaches almost £2 billion Press TV 01 Nov 2016 -- Britain has set aside £1.9 billion ($2.32bn) to beef up its cyber security measures over the next five years, two times the spending for the 2011-2016 period.
Moscow rejects MI5 chief's claims about Russia Press TV 01 Nov 2016 -- Moscow has strongly rejected claims by the director-general of the British Security Service, MI5, that Russia seeks to "push its foreign policy abroad in increasingly aggressive ways."
Russia poses increasing threat to UK: MI5 chief Press TV 01 Nov 2016 -- Russia presents an ever-increasing threat to the stability of the United Kingdom, the director general of MI5, Andrew Parker, says.
Kremlin Rejects British Spy Chief's Allegation Of 'Increasingly Aggressive' Russia RFE/RL 01 Nov 2016 -- The Kremlin has dismissed allegations by the head of Britain's MI5 intelligence agency that Russia is mounting cyberattacks and other aggressive measures that pose a growing threat to Europe.
Moscow on MI5 Chief's Claims: Sad to See Professional Trapped in Propaganda Sputnik 01 Nov 2016 -- MI5 Director General Andrew Parker's allegations that Russia uses aggressive tactics to spread its agenda abroad indicate that the UK intelligence chief has been caught up in his own propaganda, the Russian embassy in the United Kingdom said Tuesday.
Fear Has Big Eyes: MI5 Chief Claims Russia Trying to Destabilize Europe Sputnik 01 Nov 2016 -- The British MI5 security service's head said numerous Russia's intelligence officers were still operating in the United Kingdom in order to obtain information about state military, industrial and government secrets.

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November 2016 - United Kingdom Special Weapons News